37-21: Lineup continues to struggle against A’s

The Oakland Athletics subdued the Boston lineup yet again to take the third straight game, 3-2. They really have our number this season. We’re 1-4 against them, and 36-17 against the rest of baseball! We went 3-7 against them last year, too. The problem is that they are a bullpen and defense team; we rely on scoring runs late, after starters have been worn down. If they get enough healthy starting pitching, they could give us fits in the playoffs as well.

Part of the problem is that Oakland has so many lefties to throw at us, which we haven’t hit well historically. Starter Joe Kennedy (2-4) blanked the Sox for six-plus innings, and only allowed two runs in the seventh inning before escaping the threat. Then they have a deep bullpen, stocked with young, unfamiliar arms. They’re not even at full strength, with injuries to Mike Piazza and half of their outfielders.

It’s frustrating. Even the normally mild-mannered Terry Francona got ejected in the eighth for arguing balls and strikes. Tim Wakefield (5-7) turned in a solid start, but was again a hard-luck loser. His record reflects that he has been pitching pretty deeply into games, but again, that run support is usually a problem with him on the mound. Bobby Crosby hit a two-run single in the seventh to end his night.

Hideki Okajima breezed through the last 1 1/3 innings, using just 11 pitches. Man, that’s nice, to have a reliable guy like him who can throw consistently strikes.

Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis had the only extra base hits of the game for the Sox, a double and a triple, respectively. They also had two hits apiece, but it wasn’t enough on this night.

J.D. Drew started the game on the bench, and pinch-hit for Wily Mo Pena in the 9th, drawing a walk. But the offense just couldn’t squeeze out that tying run.